Earn FREEAMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for Searching Medical Articles

FACULTY DISCLOSURE: In accordance with the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education's Standards for Commercial Support, all CME providers are required to disclose to the activity audience the relevant financial relationships of the Activity Directors, planning committee members, planners, authors and staff involved in the development of CME content. An individual has a relevant financial relationship if he or she has a financial relationship in any amount occurring in the last 12 months with a commercial interest whose products or services are discussed in the CME activity content over which the individual has control. It is the policy of Hospital for Special Surgery to request all financial relationships that Activity Directors, planning committee members, planners, authors and staff have with commercial interests, but to disclose to the activity audience only the relevant financial relationships. The following Activity Directors/Planning Committee Members have disclosed no relevant financial relationships: Activity Director/Planning Committee Member: Greg Chang, MHA; Planning Committee Members: Tonie Costello, LCSW; Amy R. DeRobertis, MS, Sameer Tanakia

Dec 2nd, 1982//Vol. 10 Iss. 4//pgs. 211-214

Postmeniscectomy tourniquet palsy and functional sequelae.

A pattern of variability was noted in the rehabilitative progress of patients undergoing knee surgery. Forty-eight patients who underwent routine medial or lateral meniscectomy were studied in a controlled, randomized, prospective investigation designed to identify electromyographic (EMG) and functional deficits associated with using a pneumatic tourniquet in knee surgery. The control group (24 individuals) underwent knee surgery without te use of a tourniquet. Six weeks postoperatively all patients were studied by EMG and functionally by determining the single leg vertical leap of the affected leg and expressing this as a percentage of that accomplished by th sound leg. The results were: (1) 17 of 24 (71%) of the tourniquet group had EMG evidence of denervation and a functional capacity of 39% of the normal leg. (2) 7 of 24 (29%) of the tourniquet group had no evidence of denervation and a 71% functional capacity. (3) The control group had no evidence of denervation and a functional capacity of 79%. Of the patients on whom a tourniquet was used, total tourniquet time and pressure did not vary significantly between those patients who demonstrated EMG findings and those who did not. Arthrotomy in the absence of a tourniquet required more attention to hemostasis, but did not present overwhelming difficulty. Operative time was slightly prolonged. This investigation suggests that the ideal of early return to functional activity after knee surgery can best be accomplished by avoiding use of a pneumatic tourniquet.

Please give us your feedback by completing the above evaluation. All fields are required. The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education requires that accredited CME providers evaluate and assess the effectiveness of all Continuing Medical Education accredited activities. This evaluation will help us document our efforts to address physician’s practice gaps and educational needs.